Exploration (4)
Suyeon answered calmly to the question.
"That's correct. That's why the illegal border crossings brokered by the Desert People have no connection to the cartels, unlike other routes. It's a path perfect for someone who wants to escape the cartels—and knows the Chief doesn't deal with them."
"...I see."
One common thread among the Native American tribes near the US-Mexico border was their involvement in smuggling people across. It wasn't hugely profitable, but it beat nothing—and psychologically, they felt closer to Central and South Americans than to Americans. From the Natives' perspective, America was just a nation built by invaders.
The Desert People tribe was mostly within US territory, but a small number lived on Mexican soil too. Perfect conditions for running their own smuggling operation.
I slowly tapped the table with my fingertips.
"I get it. Among them, anyone who paid extra for additional services would have some tie to the cartels—no matter how bad. Good or ill, it wouldn't matter."
"Falling out with the cartel doesn't mean they've burned bridges with every member they knew."
"I know."
Even within a single organization, grudges and alliances tangled into knots. The root was constant power struggles and internal purges. To dodge a purge or neutralize rivals, people often had to sacrifice family, friends, or close aides.
And the 'additional services' from the casino included forging identities, money laundering, transportation, and safe houses. Those came at a steep price—and anyone who could afford them wasn't your average border jumper.
Suyeon continued, "The Chief values trust and won't sell out client info, but under the right conditions—and assuming we can reach him—he might agree to just confirm their intentions."
Sharp as ever.
As I stared silently, she modestly lowered her gaze.
Ex-cartel associates, huh... Crossing the border didn't make them home free, so plenty of those who got the Chief's help to reach the US probably ended up right back in the shit, scraping by like idiots.
And the dumber ones would have zero qualms selling out their old connections.
This was worth pursuing. Way better than the Filipino rebels, who risked drawing Pakistan's ISI.
"I was planning a US trip soon anyway. I'll sound him out then."
"Understood."
Suyeon jotted a note out of habit, then tilted her head slightly.
"If you're heading there soon, does that mean you have other business?"
"Something like that. I want to see the giants with my own eyes."
"Giants...?"
"The heaviest masses on Earth, by biomass."
"... ."
"Remember yesterday? I said the odds of primitive magic awakening scale with lifespan and biomass."
"Ah."
She finally got it, letting out a soft exclamation.
I nodded. "Right. Those massive organisms will start showing signs of awakening soon. Maybe I'll even witness their circuits opening for the first time... I expect observing them could yield valuable knowledge no mage—or imperialist—has ever touched."
Suyeon mulled it over, then asked naturally, "Are these giants... whales?"
She was probably picturing blue whales. Logical, but wrong.
No need to go to the US for whales.
"Whales are the heaviest mammals, not the heaviest lifeforms. What I'm after in North America are plants and fungi."
"Fungi... you don't mean... ."
"Mushrooms."
A brief silence fell. Then Suyeon showed rare, clear bewilderment.
"...Mushrooms heavier than whales exist?"
"They do."
The heaviest whale tops out under 200 tons. But the fungus I had in mind spanned an estimated 965 hectares of mycelium, with a staggering 37,000-ton mass—a single organism.
Suyeon clamped her mouth shut at my firm answer. Kyung-tae, who'd been listening quietly, tentatively raised his hand, glancing between us.
"Uh, got a question—"
"What?"
Grinning mischievously, Kyung-tae asked with his hand up.
"You said superpowers scale with biomass, right? So obese folks or fat patients awaken faster than skinny ones?"
"Correct."
"Holy shit, the day hyungnim cracks a joke! Haha!"
His laughter faded as my silence stretched.
"Ha... ha... ."
"... ."
"Uh... ."
"... ."
"Wait, that wasn't a joke? Fat people really awaken faster?"
"When have you ever seen me joke with you?"
"God help us."
Stunned, Kyung-tae couldn't shut his mouth.
"Whoa, this is insane. Gut fat fattens the soul too? That's what souls are? High-cal was right all along!"
"Calm down. You're embarrassing yourself. Souls don't grow that easily."
"Then what?"
"If the soul's the tree, the body is the pot. Repotting is essential for growth, but it doesn't make the tree sprout instantly. Genetics matter, and so does age—as I said."
"Oh, right."
Convinced, Kyung-tae puzzled again. "But doesn't that contradict fat people awakening fast? Unless they're ancient fatties."
"Slightly different."
I pondered briefly before continuing. "Soul mass... not literal, but let's call it that for simplicity. Easier metaphor."
"Got it."
"Key point: same mass, different volume and density. Souls inhabit life. Bigger body means more surface area touching mana essence. Independent of mass."
"Ah, like cubed sugar vs. granulated—how fast they dissolve?"
"Similar principle, different phenomenon."
"Whoa... ."
By the same logic, tiny bugs would awaken way faster than humans relative to biomass. Individually, humans dominate—but bugs are granulated sugar, humans cubed.
Composed now, Kyung-tae turned serious. "Hyungnim. I can see the future."
"What outta nowhere?"
"Can't you? Shut-ins piling on pounds in their rooms, suddenly hyped: 'My world's here!' or 'I'm chosen!'—pouring out into the streets."
"... ."
"Times being what they are, tons of those types. Life sucks, no hope, given up entirely—even off unemployment stats."
Unhelpfully realistic prophecy.
"Won't last."
"Why?"
"Cancer deaths galore."
"Cancer?"
"Immature circuits leak tons converting mana essence to mana power."
"...Leaks do what?"
"Raw mana power hits living things like radiation. Not identical, but close."
"Oof... ."
Mana essence and power warp reality via souls. Uncontrolled, it twists the host first—cells and genes included.
"More you use it, more the circuit hardens to fit. But plenty die before that. Those deaths will scare the rest straight—bad omen enough."
New awakeners' futures: stabilize into laws of nature, or cancer out. Push too hard too soon? Multi-organ failure. Plants have the edge—modular biology.
"Poor bastards. Step out just to croak from cancer... Cicadas, huh? Underground years, out for a month, see sun, dead."
His tone lacked sympathy.
Suyeon cut dryly, "Cicadas got it better. They at least mate."
"Noona, that's harsh... Know how many die unmated?"
"Pitying them? No duty to warn."
She wasn't one to mock lightly. Even kills were earnest.
No obligation anyway. States would swarm once abilities popped—tests, research spotting leaks fast. Even if initial data's fuzzy.
Kyung-tae shifted, sobering. "Jokes aside... As security chief, US trip feels risky."
"Worried the London bastards think like me?"
"Yeah. You said it after Brisbane and Singapore: any mage sensing this thinks like you."
"True."
"Same here? Rare giant mushroom—not everywhere. Odds of overlapping with London too high."
Solid logic. Not the answer.
"Not necessarily. Last trip, I feared future tracking, not immediate clash. They lack bandwidth now."
"Why?"
"No one leaves post at a time like this."
"Politics there too?"
"Obviously. All nobles—factions clash."
Greedy, arrogant, sky-high egos—imperialists.
"My old mentor betrayed comrades for the Golden Age's Eye. Their Round Table Cabinet must be worse than old British Parliament—swords out."
Vying for relic access, future order, family perks.
Kyung-tae nodded. "Makes sense. But just your guess—they're too tied up?"
"For now."
"What else?"
"Mushroom size."
"Yeah."
"Area twice Yeouido. Just the biggest one."
"... ."
"All national forest—mountains, woods. Spot me there? Manpower, resources? If they move that, can they dodge my eyes?"
"Near impossible."
"Right?"
Imperialists eye rebellion against the Cabinet. Attackers or defenders—no sending mages or mercs out. Mages die to bullets too, like Suyeon said. Circuits tuning? Barely casting.
I trusted their power lust and survival instincts.